Together, we can understand and mitigate the devastating impacts of natural disasters. A cross-disciplinary effort from the University of Washington, including the College of the Environment and other university partners, is shifting the conversation around these hazards.
With state and federal agencies, our scientists and researchers are undaunted in their research into how and why these hazards occur, and how we can take meaningful steps to mitigate them.
Geology: Earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides
Experts across a range of fields — from seismology and engineering to applied math and urban design — dig into big, multi-layered questions about processes that affect communities and people around the world. Geologic hazards present big risks to life and property and researchers are using their broad base of expertise to develop new knowledge and improve on current approaches to predicting and mitigating geologic hazards.
Geologic hazards research at the College of the Environment comes from units across the College, including:
Water: Tsunamis, coastal threats and floods
Water — oceans, seas, storms, rivers, and rain — is a source of beauty, inspiration and recreation for billions of people. But water hazards have the potential to impact almost everyone. 50 percent of the world’s population lives within a hundred miles of coastline, and those who don’t are still at risk from local or regional flooding events. Our scientists and researchers work across water-related hazards, each with their own area of expertise. In partnership with other experts, we are working toward resilient mitigation approaches to water hazards, including tsunamis, coastal threats and floods.
Water-related hazards research at the College of the Environment comes from units across the College, including:
- Climate Impacts Group (CIG)
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences
- Freshwater Program
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES)
- Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN)
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS)
- School of Marine & Environmental Affairs (SMEA)
- School of Oceanography
- Washington Sea Grant
Weather and climate: climate change, extreme temperatures, wildfires and severe storms
Our planet’s climate is changing. Precipitation patterns are shifting, and extreme climate and weather-related events like wildfires, record high and low temperatures and heavy rainstorms are happening more frequently than ever. Research from UW and around the globe points to a link between these observed changes and climbing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Through their depth of knowledge, convening power and ongoing engagement with partners, the College’s climate and weather experts are working to fuel big ideas that lead to meaningful impacts.
Weather-related hazards research at the College of the Environment comes from units across the College, including:
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences (SAFS)
- Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science
- Climate Impacts Group
- Department of Earth & Space Sciences
- School of Environmental & Forest Sciences (SEFS)
- Freshwater Program
- Friday Harbor Laboratories
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES)
- School of Marine & Environmental Affairs (SMEA)
- School of Oceanography
- UW Program on Climate Change
